The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-19
ROSS INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Stability Wanted - Changes to BE
Avoided-LocaI Government.
Corporations.
Lands and Leases.

AUSTIN, Jan. 10 - The two houses
met in joint session at ~ IN, and
after the Governor add Lieutenant
Governor had been sworn. Gov. Ross
delivered his inaugural address as
follows:
Fellow Citizens. Senators and KEEP
resentativcs in the Legislature OF
Texas: Every two years the people
are called to select from the citizens oil
the State those who are to administer
the affairs of their government. In
making this choice every political
question that touches the honor. pro-
grcss and wcll-bcing Of the country Is
fully considered. Politics, laws and
institutions are freely discussed, and
as You have Just come from the peo-
pie, il is fair TO presume that you are
full, prepared to give expression to
what may be termed the logic OF the
popular mind. Probably no legisla-
ture was ever confronted by grayer
responsibilities. Those who study the
public affairs of our State and consid
CIR the want of homogcncity in lis
population, its industrial pursuits, bu =
mess enterprises and social sympa-
thies, are aware of the fact that ii pre-
sents questions va.tlv more C m Ii
Gated and cmbar assing Il al any
other State; and the knowledge re.
quircd to deal with them wisely and
work out safe issues is immense. !
have n profound hope, not clouded
with the slightest doubt, tnat these
great and vital measures will be I'M
dcriakcn with commendablc temper.
moderation and fairness, and ] feel
confident that you will meet bravely,
unselfshlv and Loyalty the great work
confronting you, recognizing o com
mon obligation TO dc full justice to
all, the humblest as well as the high
est. and make stronger the bonds
which should unite us as pc, pie in a
common grand destiny, commensurate
with State boundless in its
resources, infinite in its possibilities.
and extending the largest freedom Of
pur.uit in matters of religious COLI
cernment social habits and bushes en-
gagemcn 5, with no aspect of per
sons in regard TO rank or place OF b.rIh
in unison with that pol teal creed
which peculiarly istneuishes our
system of popular & vernment. The
lie islator has peculi II province G M
nittcd to his are and is expected to
meet the constant valialion II the con-
ditions of society; interests and Sc
t,;t -. nd &c hn III N, an n ri
the wants o soc ETY. IN tea h what
j ws are necessary, Il ey should be ell
acted aud framed according 10 these
demands and eXigencies. But tho
probabilities of frequent changes of
pol cy upon economic qucstionsin our
state is doubtless g eat disadvantage
TO its G neral pr, sperity. What il
needs and pleads Tor is stability per
:nanency, something upon which the
people may safely rely as abiding. Ii
Is not to be eXper ted that great enter
prlses W II take that SO or feel Shat
vigor confronted wi h the Liability ot
radical change each two years, that
they would, ouid the assurance exist
that q given policy would abide so that
men might be certain { reap the re-
ward of their sewing. Experience de-
monstrates that frequent changes il
non essentials are more hurtiul in I'M
setting the minds of the people than
the small defects which these changes
have g neraly roposed to i IN dy, 10
say nothing OF the increased c,s IF
legislation and the neglect OF moro I'M
portant matters. Besides, il is posi-
bl TO so complicate legislation as TO
rem Ter its cdccts mug DRY, and 10
II Ike the simplest provision a loop
no Z through which improper prac
tees are possible. IL may not b.
deemed amiss TO say that he practic,
has become quite too 9ei Al by which
the mos important business of each
session, affecting laws and well estab-
hshcd poll les, Is crowded into its last
hours, thus consiraining members,
without time for mature del beration.
10 either suffer measures TO become
laws or incur the risk of subjecting
the state and individuals to great loss
and Inconvenience.